Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. I am not a lawyer. If you need legal advice about probate or serving notice, consult a licensed Michigan probate attorney.

Detailed answer — what to do, in order

If you are acting as next-of-kin in a Michigan probate matter and a parent (who is an heir, beneficiary, or person you must notify) cannot be located, follow a combination of investigative steps and court procedures. The goal is first to try to locate the person; if that fails, use the probate court’s methods for giving notice when someone is missing.

1) Collect and organize every lead and document you already have

• Last known address, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, driver’s license number.
• Social Security number (if available), birth and marriage certificates, military service records.
• Employment history, union membership, pension or benefits paperwork, bank or financial account statements.
• Names of known associates, relatives, friends, employers, landlords, doctors, and previous attorneys.

2) Search public and government records

Start with free public records and government resources:

• Property and tax records at the county assessor or register of deeds.
• Voter registration records through the county clerk.
• Michigan court records and dockets (civil/criminal) — someone with a case often has contact information in court filings.
• Michigan Department of Corrections inmate locator if incarceration is possible.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or military records if the person is a veteran.
• Social Security records: the Social Security Administration can sometimes confirm whether someone is receiving benefits or has a death record (see SSA for next steps).

3) Use online and national databases

• Search commercial people-finder and skip-tracing services (many attorneys and private investigators use these).
• National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) — useful if disappearance might involve a missing-person report: https://www.namus.gov/
• Search social media, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Google.

4) Contact agencies and institutions directly

• Hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities near the last known address.
• Local police and the Michigan State Police Missing Persons unit to see whether there is an active missing-person report: https://www.michigan.gov/msp/
• Credit bureaus or banks (with appropriate court authority or subpoenas you may be able to get account information).

5) Consider using a private investigator or skip tracer

Licensed private investigators and commercial skip-trace services often have access to databases and investigative tools that are not available to the general public. They can be especially helpful if the missing parent has moved frequently, used aliases, or has limited digital footprints.

6) If you still cannot find the parent: follow Michigan probate procedures for notice to missing persons

Probate courts expect reasonable effort to locate heirs and interested persons. If you cannot locate a required person despite a diligent search, the court can allow alternate forms of notice. Typical steps include:

1. Document your search efforts in detail — dates, records checked, phone calls made, agencies contacted, commercial searches run, and results. Bring this documentation to the probate court.
2. Ask the probate court to approve substitute service (for example, service by publication) or other alternative notice methods. Michigan’s probate law and court rules govern notice and service in estates; consult the Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC) and local probate rules for specifics: Michigan Legislature, Chapter 700 (EPIC): https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(mileg.aspx?page=chapter&chapter=700)
3. The court may require publication of notice in a local newspaper, posting on a courthouse bulletin board, or directing notice to last-known addresses or interested parties. Publication timelines and the proof the court requires vary, so ask the probate clerk what the court requires in your county.
4. If a missing person is an interested party and the court can’t obtain personal service, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem or an attorney to represent the missing person’s interests during the probate.

7) How this affects administration of the estate

If the missing parent is an heir and you cannot provide personal service, the court can still appoint a personal representative and allow the estate administration to move forward after proper, court-authorized notice. If the missing heir later appears, the court typically provides procedures for them to make a claim or contest distribution — but strict deadlines and proof requirements may apply. Review the EPIC provisions that apply to notice and claims in probate: see Michigan Legislature, Chapter 700 (EPIC): https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(mileg.aspx?page=chapter&chapter=700)

8) When to hire a Michigan probate attorney

Hire an attorney when:

• The estate is complex or involves significant assets.
• Heirs or beneficiaries are unknown, unlocatable, or dispute distribution.
• You need court permission for substitute service, to appoint a guardian ad litem, or to resolve questions about who is a proper next-of-kin under Michigan law.

An attorney can help you document the search, prepare the petitions the court will require, and reduce the risk the probate will be reopened later because of improper notice.

Helpful Hints

• Keep a written log of all search steps with dates and copies of communications; the probate court will expect a record of your diligent search.
• Check multiple counties and nearby states — people sometimes move across county or state lines without updating records.
• Ask local post offices about forwarding addresses and check the National Change of Address database.
• Contact past employers, unions, or benefit administrators; they sometimes have current addresses or next-of-kin information.
• Use government resources first (county records, Michigan State Police, Social Security) before paying for commercial services; this can save money and provide leads you can document for the court.
• If you must publish notice, follow the court’s exact instructions on which newspaper and how many times to publish; courts often require proof of publication before approving distributions.
• Be mindful of deadlines. If you publish or use alternate service, there may be statutory waiting periods before the estate can be closed or assets distributed.
• If the missing person may be deceased but there is no death certificate, search death records, obituaries, and cemetery records; the Social Security Death Index and state death registries can be helpful.
• When in doubt, contact the probate court clerk in the county where the estate is being administered and ask what documentation the judge requires to permit substitute notice.